Aussie Designer Andy has California on His Mind

DANDENONG SOUTH, AUSTRALIA – July 6, 2009: Employed by Nissan Design America (NDA) and based in San Diego, California, the former Victorian is responsible for ensuring the quality of NDA’s concept car build and presentation at auto shows around the world.

Following a successful, global career as a contract clay modeler for major automotives Ford, Mercedes, Opel and Mazda Andy joined NDA in 1998 and worked on a number of projects as a clay sculptor, including the 350Z and 2009 US model Maxima.

His role at NDA expanded in 2006 to include concept car-related work. As a Show Vehicle Specialist, Andy follows the chain of show car fabrication, bringing a concept to reality and ensuring the quality of the build to a high standard.

“At international auto shows, it’s my job is to make sure Design is representing Nissan through high-quality concept cars and other special vehicles,” he says.

Born and raised in Melbourne, Andy and his wife, Brenda, an Expert Color Designer for NDA, now live in Point Loma, California.

Andy says he always liked working with his hands since he was a small child, making all sorts of things with Lego and Meccano sets so after graduating from high school one of his friends offered an apprentice opportunity as a pattern maker. He sculpted models out of wood for parts such as dashboard, center consoles and steering wheels at a foundry and plastic injecting molding company in Broadmeadows, Victoria.

During his apprenticeship, Andy also studied pattern making at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology which led to an internship as a clay sculptor in the Ford design studio in Melbourne for three years.

Andy then moved to Europe. There, he worked for European and Japanese auto manufacturers as a contract clay modeler before finally making his way to San Diego in 1990 to work as a contractor for automotive design companies in southern California, including Nissan Design America (NDA), for the next eight years.

Andy joined NDA and worked on a number of projects as a clay sculptor, including the 350Z and 2009 US Maxima.

“My role at NDA expanded to include concept car-related work in 2006 and now, as a Show Vehicle Specialist, I follow the chain of show car fabrication, bringing a concept to reality and ensuring the quality of the build. At international auto shows, I have to make sure Design is doing its job representing Nissan through high-quality concept cars and other special vehicles,” he says.